Ouchi Gari
Ouchi gari — the major inner reap. Drive the opponent's posture forward, then reap the inner leg backward from between their stance to put them down.
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Ouchi gari — the major inner reap — is the foundational inside reaping throw of judo. The attacker drives the opponent’s upper body forward and reaps the near (inner) leg with a large arc from inside, sweeping the leg backward as the upper-body drive forces the opponent’s weight onto it. Where osoto gari attacks the outside of the posting leg, ouchi gari attacks the inside of the same leg from between the opponent’s legs. The two throws form the foundational entry pair: same collar-tie clinch, mirror-image leg targets.
Ouchi gari is the inside complement to osoto: when an opponent defends osoto by widening their stance or rotating their hip away, the inside line opens and ouchi becomes the available throw. The osoto–ouchi combination is the foundational two-direction attack from the collar-tie clinch — see the dedicated section below.
INV-ST01Invariant "Destabilising the opponent requires controlling the secondary leg — the leg that is not the primary base. Moving the secondary leg removes the opponent's ability to rebalance."
Why it works hereOuchi reaps the opponent's near leg as it bears load — typically the leg the opponent posts forward onto under the attacker's pressure. The forward drive forces the post; the reap fires once that post is the loaded support point. The far leg cannot replant in time to rebalance — it has just lifted to step or is still positioned wide of the centreline.
See full invariant page → INV-04Invariant "The angle of attack determines which structural option is available. A small change in angle changes which technique is correct, regardless of the position name."
Why it works hereThe driving angle determines which leg becomes the target. A drive directly into the opponent's centre loads both legs evenly and gives no reap target. A drive angled toward the reap-side hip loads that side's leg as the opponent steps to absorb the force — that is the ouchi window. The drive angle is selected for the throw, not adjusted afterward.
See full invariant page → INV-13Invariant "Kuzushi (off-balance) is the prerequisite of every throw. The opponent must be moved out of their base of support before the throwing action begins."